South Pasadena shooting plot caught early, police to increase presence at school

South Pasadena Police Chief Arthur Miller, center, after a press conference held at the South Pasadena Police Department on Tuesday regarding two teens arrested on suspicion of planning a mass shooting that targeted teachers and students at South Pasadena High School.
Walt Mancini — Staff photographer

SOUTH PASADENA >> Officials on Tuesday characterized an alleged mass shooting scheme as two teenage boys’ “huge plan of a school massacre” that was designed “very coldheartedly.”

Officers arrested a 16- and a 17-year-old boy on suspicion of criminal threats and conspiracy, Police Chief Arthur Miller said. Both teens are from South Pasadena and attend high school at 1401 Fremont Ave.

“They were talking about mass murder,” Miller said. “In their mind, they would start randomly shooting children. I think the plan was very viable and that we got them in the beginning of their plot. ...There was no target date, but they had a very, very specific plan about how they were going to carry out their sick mission.”

Police arrested the teens in their homes Monday, three days before the first day of school. Authorities also confiscated two computers.

No charges have been filed.

South Pasadena Unified School District first notified police about the alleged plan on Aug. 14. Officers began investigations immediately and, through social media, performed online surveillance that revealed the boys were researching how to fire and assemble weapons.

Miller did not disclose the teens’ motives.

The FBI will work with the South Pasadena Police Department in the ongoing investigation, Miller said. The federal agency will help perform forensics on computers and provide guidance on how to proceed.

Police believe they have apprehended the only suspects but are keeping their eyes open, Miller said.

About 1,500 students attend South Pasadena High School.

The suspects’ prime targets were three staff members and random students, Miller said. They planned on shooting as many people as possible, Miller said. Although they don’t have a manifesto or hit list, the boys told someone about their intended targets, officials said.

“It was just crazy. Their whole thought process was crazy,” he said. “Their whole manner in how they were planning this out. The end result was everyone was going to die, including them in a shootout with police.”

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Mass shootings have been on the rise with California leading the pack for the most incidents, according to data from the Stanford Geospatial Center. Since 1966 the Golden State has had 26 massacres that killed 125 people and injured 160 others.

Second to colleges and universities, middle and high schools have the most mass shootings, according to the Stanford Geospatial Center. Historically, the number of victims is highest at schools and the most deaths occur when the shooter suffers from mental illness.

Authorities don’t believe the boys have mental issues, officials said. The teenagers didn’t possess any weapons, but police discovered enough evidence on their computers to put them in handcuffs, Miller said.

The suspects are being held at Central Juvenile Hall at 1605 Eastlake Ave., Miller said.

“When they were interviewed, they did not refute the charges,” City Manager Sergio Gonzalez said. “One of the very shocking things about it is they were very matter of fact about it: They planned to kill as many targets as possible.”

Their parents are shocked because the boys haven’t had any run-ins with authorities, Miller said.

The boys, Miller said, went online and researched automatic weapons, handguns, knives, rifles, bulletproof vests and bomb-making devices — specifically propane ones. They looked at web pages that taught them how to disarm people and how to overcome police.

They also looked into submachine guns, which could fire several rounds per second and could “cause catastrophe,” Sgt. Robert Bartl has said.

The boys had potential access to a relative’s handgun, but Miller said the firearm was in an out-of-state safe.

Many in the sleepy town of South Pasadena were shocked when they heard about the potential mass shooting.

“Just like everybody else in South Pasadena, it came as a shock,” Mayor Marina Khubesrian said. “I want to commend the police department and school district for their quick action. ... The community is asking who they are. Were they disenfranchised? We’re all wondering.”

Police planned to meet with the district attorney Tuesday afternoon, Miller said. By today, the D.A. will decide if the teens will be charged as adults, he said.

In September, a 17-year-old Temple City High School boy called in three falsely reported bomb threats. Investigators didn’t find explosives or weapons in his home in the unincorporated area of North San Gabriel. The teen was charged as a juvenile.

South Pasadena High School will have increased police presence on the first day of school with both uniformed and undercover officers walking the grounds.

In Santa Clarita, police arrested a 15-year-old boy on Sunday for posting threats on Instagram. He didn’t have weapons in his possession and had no real intent of carrying out his threats, authorities said, but the kid remains in custody on felony charges.

On Monday a 13-year-old boy was arrested for threats he allegedly made via a text message that a friend later posted on Instagram. The suspect realized too late that his intended practical joke was being taken seriously, officials said.

Both in South Pasadena and in Santa Clarita, school violence suspects were arrested thanks to the help of community members who reported questionable social media posts or conversations to the police.